Each day is a new sigh of relief. So far so good.
Nuggets guard Chucky Atkins is taking it one step, one defensive slide, one day at a time in his return from a severely strained groin. Admittedly, he returned at something less than 100 percent, which on several occasions he vowed not to do.
But improving health and a desire to finally start his season sped up the return. He missed the season’s first 24 games until his debut Thursday. The early returns aren’t where he wants them to be, but hey, he’s still playing. Atkins said his level of effectiveness will increase as he continues to heal.
“I can see certain things, how things are going to be, when I eventually get back to being me, basically,” Atkins said. “And it’s a good thing, man.”
The issues now?
“Right now, I’m not able to really move fully,” Atkins said. “I see creases and spots where I can get to the basket, and right now, I can’t get there. I’m just not able to move the way I want to be effective — not just being able to spot up and make shots.
“What I want to do is make moves, be able to do what I did in the past, and I can free up Carmelo (Anthony) and Allen (Iverson) from having to do so much with the ball, give those guys certain breaks during the game.”
Numbers-wise, Atkins has averaged 6.3 points and 2.0 assists in three games, playing 21.0 minutes per contest. Most troubling is his 26.3 shooting percentage from behind the 3-point arc. He was brought to the Nuggets because of his 3-point prowess. The shooting deficient Nuggets needed more punch from the arc. Atkins is expected to be the cure.
But no one is worried.
“I don’t think he’s 100 percent,” coach George Karl said. “The back-to-back situation (games Thursday and Friday), he just didn’t seem like he wanted to push off the leg. He didn’t shoot the ball very well. I might have over-played him a little bit.”
Said Atkins: “I just think it’s going to take me a little time to get my basketball legs. But I’ll be all right.”
So what can the Nuggets expect in the future? Atkins is a career 36.9 percent 3-point shooter, and specializes in making big shots late in games. His 3-pointer with 1:31 left in the second overtime of the Nuggets win against Houston tied the score at 106. Another jumper with 20 seconds left gave Denver a 110-109 lead.
“I take and I make big shots,” Atkins said. “Whether I’ve got it going or not, it doesn’t matter. With the attention Carmelo and Allen get, a lot of times I’m going to be one of the guys who has a wide-open shot, and I can’t be afraid to take that shot, and I’m not going to be afraid to take that shot.”
Sacramento coach Reggie Theus says Atkins “knows how to play the game. The Nuggets are an easy team to play for. All you have to do is play. They have plays and stuff, but they have a great player in Allen, who creates most of the havoc — you just have to fill in.”
Karl notes Atkins’ intangibles.
“He gives us another passer, another decision-maker on the court, and I would like to see us playing with more decision-makers,” Karl said. “When we have low turnover games, it seems to give us success. And I think he’ll get to the free-throw line and be clever on the execution of plays.”
Staff writer Benjamin Hochman contributed to this report.
Chris Dempsey: 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com
